2 Timothy 3:1-16
“Imposters Who Corrupt Truth”
As I was reading this morning in 2 Timothy the Holy Spirit reminded me that false teachers are not just teachers that are identified with a known cult. False teachers can also be “wolves in sheep’s clothing” among believers within the Body of Christ:
Matt 7:15:
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
These “wolves” are walking among us in our Bible studies, small groups, and churches. They may profess to believe the gospel of Christ but in actuality, have been deceived themselves and don’t even know it.
2 Timothy 3:13
But evil men and imposters will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
Before your mind gets racing too far ahead and you start to feel panic set in–take a moment to breathe deeply and say out loud:
“I TRUST YOU JESUS. ❤️❤️❤️
No weapon formed against me shall PROSPER!” (Isaiah 54:17)
We are not to embrace a spirit of fear, but instead, we are given peace and a sound mind (2 Tim 1:7) –for truly Lord, “Thy WORD is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105).
BELIEVER, STAND FIRM IN THE WORD OF GOD!!
As we encounter people within the body of Christ who claim to have been called by God, we can rest assured that God will approve or disapprove that teacher, belief or ministry leader according to their adherence to the plumbline of God: which is the WORD of GOD. (Amos 7:7-8). For truly, there is nothing new under the sun!!
The tried and true way to receive direction, guidance, enlightenment, and understanding flows from a genuine, humble life submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ himself–and no one else!! Safety and security in our faith is a result of our RELATIONSHIP with JESUS CHRIST AND OUR KNOWLEDGE OF HIS TRUE WORD. ❤️
Our loyalty should NEVER be greater to a person, leader or teacher, than to Jesus CHRIST! You may be thinking, “Well, of course, everyone KNOWS THAT!”
But… JUST to be sure you have not fallen into deception ask yourself three questions:
1. Do you find yourself feeling overly dependent on a certain teacher, friend, ministry leader or pastor, and feel you MUST have their input to understand God’s leadings?
THAT’S WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE REVEALER OF TRUTH PROMISES TO DO?
2. Have you allowed the false belief to creep into your mind and heart that without the guidance of this certain person’s influence to guide your walk with God, your ability to perceive and understand and HEAR GOD may be less fruitful or clear—I have one word for you–
RUN!!!!!!
Jesus said: ” I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE; NO ONE COMES to the Father but through ME. (John 14:6)
3. Do you ever feel controlled or manipulated by someone, to the point that if you don’t agree with or do what they say or think, you might lose their friendship, respect, love or trust?
FLEE FROM THAT PERSON!!!!!
That kind of behavior is what the Bible calls “SPIRIT OF JEZEBEL”. Get as FAR AWAY from that person as possible for they are waking in the FLESH and are not walking with the LORD!
Watch OUT for those who sow seeds of discord!
“A Jezebel will continually belittle another person in the most subtle way. The strategy is to “gain” control by minimizing the value of another person. It is common for him to tell half-truths to implicate another person in your eyes. By sowing these seeds, he hopes to eventually reap a harvest of destruction, improving his position of power.”
YIKES! Remember–that if people are “sowing discord” they are people operating under the influence of the enemy, and are DECEIVED themselves and DON’T even realize it!!!
What is THE SOLUTION?
Galatians 5:22,23
BY THEIR FRUITS YOU WILL KNOW THEM.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self control.
1 Cor 13:4-8
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
V 8 LOVE NEVER FAILS. ❤️❤️❤️
If you find that any of this content is “ringing your bell” but are not sure if you are being deceived by a false teacher or teachings, I encourage you today to
STEP BACK
from that relationship, and seek the Lord by choosing to search His WORD, WORSHIP HIM with all your MIGHT and AFFECTION and PRAY.
Jesus’s promise is SURE:
“I will not leave you COMFORTLESS (as orphans) I WILL COME TO YOU.” (John 14:18)
You can RELY ON THE GRACE AND LOVE OF JESUS TO REVEAL TRUTH TO YOU BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO LIVES INSIDE OF YOU!
YOU DONT NEED ANYONE ELSE TO HELP YOU “HEAR” the voice of GOD—that is the work of the Holy Spirit in YOU and it is NOT a result of someone else walking in fleshy PRIDE seeking selfish ambition and gain.
We are living in the end times. Let us heed the final words of Paul to Timothy–words that Paul wrote from Mammertine Prison in Rome, Italy as he awaited his execution:
2 Timothy 4:2-8
“Preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.
BUT YOU, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid out for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
OH BE WISE and DISCERNING!
Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
Grace and Peace,
Ashley Gronholm